Stereotypes about women’s work, men’s work threaten innovation

Australia’s economy will be poorly equipped for future challenges if stereotypes about the kinds of work women and men ‘should’ do persist, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

 Occupational gender segregation has remained persistent over the last 20 years.

 Traditionally female-dominated industries (Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Training) have seen the proportion of women increase further.

 Some male-dominated industries (Construction and Wholesale Trade) recorded a decline in female representation, while others (including Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services and Transport, Postal and Warehousing) recorded growth.

 Although men dominate in leadership roles across all industries, women are substantially more likely to hold CEO or key management personnel roles in female-dominated industries than male-dominated industries.

 Average remuneration in female-dominated organisations is lower than in male-dominated organisations. However female managers working in male-dominated organisations are more likely to earn salaries closer to their male colleagues.

 Performance pay and other additional remuneration plays a greater role in male-dominated industries, leading to higher gender pay gaps for total remuneration.

 There has been a substantial increase in the proportion of female managers in what remains a male- dominated occupation (up from 30.1% to 37.1%).

 On an occupational level, male-dominated workplaces have smaller proportions of part-time employees while full-time employees tend to work longer hours – attributes that may deter people with family and caring responsibilities.